masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgKANSAS CITY – One bright spot emerging from these playoffs for the Orioles is the pitching of right-hander Kevin Gausman, who is finishing up his rookie year.

The kid has done a good job in three postseason outings. Over eight innings, he has allowed four hits and one run with two walks and seven strikeouts. He has a postseason ERA of 1.13 while the O’s team ERA is 4.33 through six games.

Gausman pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series and was…KANSAS CITY – One bright spot emerging from these playoffs for the Orioles is the pitching of right-hander Kevin Gausman, who is finishing up his rookie year.

The kid has done a good job in three postseason outings. Over eight innings, he has allowed four hits and one run with two walks and seven strikeouts. He has a postseason ERA of 1.13 while the O’s team ERA is 4.33 through six games.

Gausman pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series and was called on in a very big spot last night.

He replaced Wei-Yin Chen with the game tied 1-1 in the sixth. The Royals had runners on first and third with one out and Billy Butler up. Butler gave Kansas City the lead with a sac fly, but Gausman retired all eight batters he faced last night on just 33 pitches.

Kevin-Gausman-ALCS-gray.jpg“I think it kind of shows that Buck (Showalter) has some confidence in me, bringing me in like that,” Gausman said. “Just tried to be a stopper. Was hoping to get a ground ball to J.J. (Hardy) and get out of that inning without giving up a run.

“They just played a little bit better (last night). When I came in, all Butler had to do was hit a deep fly ball. He did it on a pretty tough pitch. Hats off to him.”

And now the O’s face the possible end of their season today at Kauffman Stadium.

“That is playoff baseball for you. We’ve been playing good baseball really this whole series,” Gausman said. “Tough pill to swallow, but we just have to play a little bit better. Right now it’s game-by-game and pitch-by-pitch for us.”